Current:Home > MarketsMiley Cyrus cries making history as youngest Disney Legend, credits 'Hannah Montana' -Wealthify
Miley Cyrus cries making history as youngest Disney Legend, credits 'Hannah Montana'
View
Date:2025-04-21 16:43:13
ANAHEIM, Calif. − It took two Hollywood stars to welcome Jamie Lee Curtis into the Disney Legends club.
A pair of "Freaky Friday" leads − Lindsay Lohan, who starred in 2003 remake, and Jodie Foster, who starred in the 1976 original − inducted Curtis, 65, during the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony on Sunday. The event, held before an audience of 12,000 fans at the Honda Center, closed out Disney's D23 Fan Expo.
"The magic of Jamie Lee Curtis is that she is timeless," said Lohan, who is making the sequel "Freakier Friday" with Curtis. "I feel so blessed to have Jamie as a friend in my life, and lucky to work with a woman I love so much."
This year's 14 Disney Legends honorees also include actors Angela Bassett, Miley Cyrus and Harrison Ford; actress and host Kelly Ripa; filmmakers James L. Brooks, James Cameron and Frank Oz; composer John Williams; Disney costumer Colleen Atwood; tour guide-turned manager/producer Martha Blanding; comics artist and writer Steve Ditko; animator Mark Henn; and theme park designer Joe Rohde.
The Disney Legends Awards Ceremony will stream on Disney+ starting Monday (5 EST/2 PST).
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Join our Watch Party!Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox
Foster gave a laughter-filled speech thanking Curtis for their long Hollywood friendship, pointing out that the "Scream Queens" star is a prolific online shopper for her friends.
"She's so thoughtful and kind, she makes me want to punch her in the face," said Foster. "She did buy me the best bras I have ever owned. Thank you, Jamie, for looking out for my boobs."
'Star Wars' icon Harrison Ford turns Legend, presents John Williams with award
Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger inducted "Star Wars" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" legend Ford, 82, who received a deafening standing ovation. Ford was emotional in his speech, holding back tears as he said to fans, "I love the life you've given me."
Ford returned to the stage with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy to honor legendary composer Williams, 92, who was unable to attend.
"It's no exaggeration to say that John Williams is the greatest film composer of all time," said Kennedy of the five-time Oscar winner.
"John has written the soundtrack of our lives," Ford added.
Ryan Seacrest honors Kelly Ripa for her 'magic power'
Disney Legends host Ryan Seacrest introduced his "Live With Kelly and Ryan" co-host Ripa, 53. "You have a magic power, you really do," Seacrest told her.
Ripa immediately took a loving swipe at Seacrest on the stage. "I'm just so glad you found something else to host," she said.
Employed by ABC for 34 years, Ripa said she owed "everything" to Disney, right down to meeting her "smoking hot husband," Mark Consuelos, on the set of "All My Children" 30 years ago.
"We even made our three children in the Disney lab backstage," said Ripa. "Just kidding. We made them in our dressing room. Just kidding again."
'Hannah Montana' forever: Miley Cyrus is youngest Disney Legend ever
Country singer Lainey Wilson introduced Cyrus, pointing out that her first job was performing as Hannah Montana at "birthday parties, festivals, you name it."
Wilson performed “Best of Both Worlds,” one of 15 "Hannah Montana" tracks she learned "from front to back" for the job.
"You inspired me to believe in myself," Wilson said, thanking Cyrus for "kicking butt no matter what."
The pop icon, 31, made Disney history as the youngest-ever Disney Legend. Cyrus immediately got choked up when she took the stage to accept her Legend award, predicting, "I'm definitely going to cry." She followed through on her own promise while reminiscing about her breakout role on the Disney Channel teen TV sitcom Hannah Montana, which ran from 2006 to 2011.
"There was a buzz in that Burbank Disney office where it's rumored that they create all of us Disney Kids," said Cyrus. "I definitely wasn't created in a lab, but if I was, there must have been a bug in the system that caused me to malfunction somewhere between the years of 2013 and 2016."
Cyrus thanked her "Hannah Montana" army.
"Much has changed since that day, but at the same time, nothing has changed at all," Cyrus said. "I stand here still proud to have been in 'Hannah Montana.' This award is dedicated to Hannah and all of her amazing, loyal fans. To quote the legend herself, 'This is the life.' "
Angela Bassett revels in finally being a Disney Legend
"Black Panther" filmmaker Ryan Coogler welcomed Angela Bassett into the Legends club and recalled watching the movie "Boyz N the Hood" in 1991 at age 5 and "Malcom X" in 1992.
"I remember being blown away by Angela's performance," said Coogler. "That was the start of our relationship."
Bassett, who received an Oscar nomination for her role as Ramonda in 2022's "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," called Coogler a "true visionary" and thanked fans.
"You are the magic," said Bassett. "There are not enough words to say how much I appreciate you."
She concluded: "Thank you once again for recognizing me. I am now a Disney Legend."
Disney Princesses assemble for Mark Henn
Animator Mark Henn was honored for his work animating or creating some of the most timeless characters in Walt Disney Studios history, including Tiana, Mulan, Simba, Jasmine, Belle, Ariel and Mickey Mouse.
The voices behind famed Disney Princesses took the stage to honor Henn: Jodi Benson (Ariel, "The Little Mermaid"), Paige O’Hara (Belle, "Beauty and the Beast"), Linda Larkin (Princess Jasmine, "Aladdin"), Ming-Na Wen (Fa Mulan, "Mulan"), and Anika Noni Rose (Tiana, "The Princess and the Frog").
veryGood! (777)
Related
- The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- No longer welcome in baseball, Omar Vizquel speaks for first time since lawsuit | Exclusive
- Taliban say security forces killed dozens of Tajiks, Pakistanis involved in attacks in Afghanistan
- Rocket arm. Speed. Megawatt smile. Alabama's Jalen Milroe uses all three on playoff path.
- All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
- Cargo ship carrying burning lithium-ion batteries reaches Alaska, but kept offshore for safety
- Pakistan election officials reject former prime minister Khan’s candidacy in parliamentary election
- New York City officials detail New Year's Eve in Times Square security plan
- Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
- The FAFSA for the 2024-25 academic year is arriving. Some big changes may impact your student's financial aid.
Ranking
- Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
- Off-duty sergeant fatally shot at North Carolina gas station while trying to intervene during a crime, police say
- Cowboys deny Lions on 2-point try for 20-19 win to extend home win streak to 16
- Gloria Trevi says she was a 'prisoner' of former manager Sergio Andrade in new lawsuit
- Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
- Dying in the Fields as Temperatures Soar
- NFL playoff format: How many teams make it, how many rounds are there and more
- These 12 Christmas Decor Storage Solutions Will Just Make Your Life Easier
Recommendation
Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
What's open on New Year's Eve? Stores, restaurants and fast food places ringing in 2024 with open doors.
Russia launches record number of drones across Ukraine as Moscow and Kyiv continue aerial attacks
Barack Obama's favorite songs of 2023 include Beyoncé, Shakira, Zach Bryan: See the list
Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
The Detroit Pistons, amid a 28-game losing streak, try to avoid NBA history
Teen killed in Australia shark attack
North Korea’s Kim says he’ll launch 3 more spy satellites and build more nuclear weapons in 2024